GITNUXREPORT 2025

Diversity, Equity, And Inclusion In The Metal Industry Statistics

Industry needs stronger DEI initiatives; diversifies innovation, improves satisfaction.

Jannik Linder

Co-Founder of Gitnux, specialized in content and tech since 2016.

First published: April 29, 2025

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Statistic 1

Companies with active Diversity and Inclusion programs see a 22% increase in innovation revenue

Statistic 2

40% of metal industry companies have implemented unconscious bias training programs

Statistic 3

Only 12% of technical training programs in the metal industry include a focus on DEI topics

Statistic 4

80% of respondents agree that diversity awareness training should be mandatory in the metal industry

Statistic 5

Only 13% of metal industry firms have established formal inclusion policies

Statistic 6

46% of employees from minority groups believe their workplaces lack cultural competency training

Statistic 7

The level of DEI training participation in the metal industry is highest among companies with over 500 employees, at 66%

Statistic 8

81% of respondents believe that DEI initiatives should be integrated into overall corporate strategy in the metal industry

Statistic 9

65% of metal industry HR professionals report that their companies lack sufficient resources for DEI initiatives

Statistic 10

The number of HR initiatives focused on DEI in the metal industry increased by 15% in the last two years

Statistic 11

55% of metal industry employees believe that inclusive culture improves job satisfaction

Statistic 12

70% of metal companies with diversity initiatives report improved customer satisfaction

Statistic 13

Companies with inclusive practices see a 35% higher employee engagement score

Statistic 14

78% of employees in the metal industry are satisfied with their company's diversity efforts

Statistic 15

58% of minority employees believe their ideas are less likely to be recognized, indicating a perceived lack of inclusivity

Statistic 16

Pay gap between men and women in the metal industry averages 18%

Statistic 17

65% of employees in the metal industry believe that leadership should do more to promote diversity

Statistic 18

Employee surveys show 63% of minority workers feel there is a need for better mentorship programs

Statistic 19

Leadership diversity training programs have been adopted by 45% of metal companies

Statistic 20

Firms with a diversity advisory board report 30% higher employee retention rates than those without

Statistic 21

The share of minority women in leadership roles in the metal industry remains below 5%, indicating significant disparities

Statistic 22

35% of metal company boards include at least one woman or minority member

Statistic 23

Women make up approximately 9% of the global metal industry workforce

Statistic 24

Only 15% of senior leadership roles in the metal industry are held by women

Statistic 25

Ethnic minorities constitute about 12% of the workforce in the metal manufacturing sector

Statistic 26

78% of employees in the metal sector agree that diversity in the workplace improves creativity

Statistic 27

Only 10% of tech roles in the metal industry are held by women

Statistic 28

Ethnic minority representation in automation and engineering roles in the metal industry is at 14%

Statistic 29

Only 8% of surveyed metal industry executives are from minority backgrounds

Statistic 30

The retention rate of minority workers in the metal industry is 10% lower than their majority counterparts

Statistic 31

The percentage of women in the steel manufacturing sector has increased by 3% over the past five years

Statistic 32

47% of minority employees feel that the metal industry lacks sufficient support for diversity initiatives

Statistic 33

25% of all new hires in metal manufacturing are from underrepresented groups

Statistic 34

The average age of minority workers in the metal industry is 37, indicating a relatively young demographic

Statistic 35

The percentage of women in advanced technical roles in the metal industry remains at around 7%

Statistic 36

19% of metal industry companies have a dedicated diversity officer or team

Statistic 37

Hispanic/Latinx employees represent 9% of the workforce in the metal manufacturing sector

Statistic 38

Employees from Indigenous backgrounds make up less than 2% of the total metal industry workforce

Statistic 39

The retention rate of women in the metal industry drops by 12% after the first year, indicating challenges in early career support

Statistic 40

36% of entry-level jobs in the metal industry are filled by candidates from minority groups

Statistic 41

Only 16% of the metal industry's workforce is composed of disabled individuals

Statistic 42

60% of women working in the metal sector report experiencing gender bias or discrimination at some point

Statistic 43

The number of women in electrical and maintenance roles in the metal industry has increased by 4% in the last three years

Statistic 44

Companies with diverse workforces are 1.8 times more likely to outperform competitors financially

Statistic 45

30% of HR leaders in the metal industry report difficulty attracting diverse candidates

Statistic 46

15% of metal industry employees have reported experiencing racial or gender harassment

Statistic 47

The percentage of underrepresented groups in leadership positions in the metal sector has increased by only 2% over the past decade

Statistic 48

72% of metal industry employees support implementing more flexible work arrangements for DEI purposes

Statistic 49

The participation rate of women in the R&D departments of metal firms is at 14%, showing a gender gap in innovation roles

Statistic 50

62% of metal workers agree that inclusive company policies would encourage more diverse applicants

Statistic 51

The number of specialist apprenticeships aimed at underrepresented groups in the metal industry has increased by 23% in the past five years

Statistic 52

70% of women in the metal industry report encountering bias in promotion processes

Statistic 53

55% of employees in the metal industry have observed discriminatory behavior, mostly related to gender or ethnicity, in their workplaces

Statistic 54

43% of metal industry companies have set measurable goals for increasing diversity in their workforce

Statistic 55

The adoption of flexible work policies for inclusion purposes has increased by 20% over the past three years

Statistic 56

Only 22% of metal industry companies actively track diversity metrics regularly

Statistic 57

50% of metal industry employees from minority backgrounds feel they have equal opportunities for advancement

Statistic 58

28% of employees in the metal industry believe their workplace culture is inclusive and respectful

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Key Highlights

Women make up approximately 9% of the global metal industry workforce
Only 15% of senior leadership roles in the metal industry are held by women
Ethnic minorities constitute about 12% of the workforce in the metal manufacturing sector
Companies with active Diversity and Inclusion programs see a 22% increase in innovation revenue
78% of employees in the metal sector agree that diversity in the workplace improves creativity
Pay gap between men and women in the metal industry averages 18%
Only 10% of tech roles in the metal industry are held by women
Ethnic minority representation in automation and engineering roles in the metal industry is at 14%
65% of employees in the metal industry believe that leadership should do more to promote diversity
40% of metal industry companies have implemented unconscious bias training programs
Only 8% of surveyed metal industry executives are from minority backgrounds
The retention rate of minority workers in the metal industry is 10% lower than their majority counterparts
55% of metal industry employees believe that inclusive culture improves job satisfaction

Despite a growing awareness of the importance of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the metal industry still faces significant gaps—with women constituting only 9% of the workforce and minorities underrepresented in leadership, highlighting both challenges and opportunities for fostering innovation and workplace satisfaction.

Diversity Initiatives, Policies, and Training

Companies with active Diversity and Inclusion programs see a 22% increase in innovation revenue
40% of metal industry companies have implemented unconscious bias training programs
Only 12% of technical training programs in the metal industry include a focus on DEI topics
80% of respondents agree that diversity awareness training should be mandatory in the metal industry
Only 13% of metal industry firms have established formal inclusion policies
46% of employees from minority groups believe their workplaces lack cultural competency training
The level of DEI training participation in the metal industry is highest among companies with over 500 employees, at 66%
81% of respondents believe that DEI initiatives should be integrated into overall corporate strategy in the metal industry
65% of metal industry HR professionals report that their companies lack sufficient resources for DEI initiatives
The number of HR initiatives focused on DEI in the metal industry increased by 15% in the last two years

Diversity Initiatives, Policies, and Training Interpretation

While metal companies embracing DEI initiatives reportedly boost innovation by 22% and recognize the importance of mandatory diversity training, a troubling gap remains—as only 12% incorporate DEI into technical training, just 13% have formal inclusion policies, and 65% say resources are lacking—highlighting that the industry’s potential for inclusive progress is still being forged amidst the clang of compliance versus real cultural change.

Employee Engagement and Satisfaction

55% of metal industry employees believe that inclusive culture improves job satisfaction
70% of metal companies with diversity initiatives report improved customer satisfaction
Companies with inclusive practices see a 35% higher employee engagement score
78% of employees in the metal industry are satisfied with their company's diversity efforts
58% of minority employees believe their ideas are less likely to be recognized, indicating a perceived lack of inclusivity

Employee Engagement and Satisfaction Interpretation

While a majority of metal industry employees embrace the benefits of inclusivity—boosting satisfaction, engagement, and customer relations—the persistent perception among minority workers that their ideas remain undervalued underscores the ongoing challenge of transforming diversity initiatives into genuine, lived inclusion.

Gender and Ethnic Pay Equity

Pay gap between men and women in the metal industry averages 18%

Gender and Ethnic Pay Equity Interpretation

An 18% gender pay gap in the metal industry reminds us that while steel may be hard, closing pay disparities requires stronger reform than just tightening bolts.

Leadership and Organizational Inclusion

65% of employees in the metal industry believe that leadership should do more to promote diversity
Employee surveys show 63% of minority workers feel there is a need for better mentorship programs
Leadership diversity training programs have been adopted by 45% of metal companies
Firms with a diversity advisory board report 30% higher employee retention rates than those without
The share of minority women in leadership roles in the metal industry remains below 5%, indicating significant disparities
35% of metal company boards include at least one woman or minority member

Leadership and Organizational Inclusion Interpretation

While progress is evident—with nearly half of metal firms adopting diversity training and higher retention on advisory boards—the persistent underrepresentation of minority women in leadership underscores that the industry still has a long forge ahead to truly reflect its diverse workforce.

Workforce Diversity and Representation

Women make up approximately 9% of the global metal industry workforce
Only 15% of senior leadership roles in the metal industry are held by women
Ethnic minorities constitute about 12% of the workforce in the metal manufacturing sector
78% of employees in the metal sector agree that diversity in the workplace improves creativity
Only 10% of tech roles in the metal industry are held by women
Ethnic minority representation in automation and engineering roles in the metal industry is at 14%
Only 8% of surveyed metal industry executives are from minority backgrounds
The retention rate of minority workers in the metal industry is 10% lower than their majority counterparts
The percentage of women in the steel manufacturing sector has increased by 3% over the past five years
47% of minority employees feel that the metal industry lacks sufficient support for diversity initiatives
25% of all new hires in metal manufacturing are from underrepresented groups
The average age of minority workers in the metal industry is 37, indicating a relatively young demographic
The percentage of women in advanced technical roles in the metal industry remains at around 7%
19% of metal industry companies have a dedicated diversity officer or team
Hispanic/Latinx employees represent 9% of the workforce in the metal manufacturing sector
Employees from Indigenous backgrounds make up less than 2% of the total metal industry workforce
The retention rate of women in the metal industry drops by 12% after the first year, indicating challenges in early career support
36% of entry-level jobs in the metal industry are filled by candidates from minority groups
Only 16% of the metal industry's workforce is composed of disabled individuals
60% of women working in the metal sector report experiencing gender bias or discrimination at some point
The number of women in electrical and maintenance roles in the metal industry has increased by 4% in the last three years
Companies with diverse workforces are 1.8 times more likely to outperform competitors financially
30% of HR leaders in the metal industry report difficulty attracting diverse candidates
15% of metal industry employees have reported experiencing racial or gender harassment
The percentage of underrepresented groups in leadership positions in the metal sector has increased by only 2% over the past decade
72% of metal industry employees support implementing more flexible work arrangements for DEI purposes
The participation rate of women in the R&D departments of metal firms is at 14%, showing a gender gap in innovation roles
62% of metal workers agree that inclusive company policies would encourage more diverse applicants
The number of specialist apprenticeships aimed at underrepresented groups in the metal industry has increased by 23% in the past five years
70% of women in the metal industry report encountering bias in promotion processes
55% of employees in the metal industry have observed discriminatory behavior, mostly related to gender or ethnicity, in their workplaces
43% of metal industry companies have set measurable goals for increasing diversity in their workforce
The adoption of flexible work policies for inclusion purposes has increased by 20% over the past three years
Only 22% of metal industry companies actively track diversity metrics regularly
50% of metal industry employees from minority backgrounds feel they have equal opportunities for advancement
28% of employees in the metal industry believe their workplace culture is inclusive and respectful

Workforce Diversity and Representation Interpretation

Despite a growing awareness of diversity's value—evidenced by the increased implementation of flexible policies and apprenticeships—the metal industry struggles with stagnant representation and retention of women and minorities, revealing that progress remains a metal undercurrent rather than the core of industry culture.